NFriday wrote:You can only be 20 pounds overweight, and still develop diabetes if you are genetically predisposed, as my sister the endocrinologist has reminded me on several occasions.

If you are not genetically predisposed, you will not develop diabetes. As Geralyn Spollett of the American Diabetes Association said, "You can’t just eat your way to Type 2 diabetes."

If you are genetically predisposed, you may develop diabetes even if you eat healthfully and are not overweight. Healthful diet and exercise reduce your risk, but do not eliminate it. Why some people with a family history of diabetes develop the disease and others do not is poorly understood. Some studies indicate that drinking four cups of caffeinated coffee daily may reduce your risk.

Thanks for this useful information, LAZ. (And here I thought this thread was irretrievable!) I may be the last person on Earth to learn this, but I did not know there was such a thing as a genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes -- specifically, that not just anybody could become diabetic.

I had hoped to steer clear of this train wreck but now that there's some discussion of genetics I can't resist jumping in.

LAZ wrote:If you are not genetically predisposed, you will not develop diabetes. As Geralyn Spollett of the American Diabetes Association said, "You can’t just eat your way to Type 2 diabetes."

If you are genetically predisposed, you may develop diabetes even if you eat healthfully and are not overweight. Healthful diet and exercise reduce your risk, but do not eliminate it. Why some people with a family history of diabetes develop the disease and others do not is poorly understood.

Katie wrote:Thanks for this useful information, LAZ. (And here I thought this thread was irretrievable!) I may be the last person on Earth to learn this, but I did not know there was such a thing as a genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes -- specifically, that not just anybody could become diabetic.

The interplay of genetic and environmental factors responsible for type 2 diabetes (T2D) is highly complex so oversimplifications are unlikely to be correct or even useful (indeed misinformation may lead to harmful lifestyle decisions). This is a very active area of biomedical research and the final answers (if any exist) are not in. As someone with a background in mammalian genetics but no expertise in diabetes research, I'll go ahead and present a few of my own oversimplifications.

Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition at NYU, has responded to Geralyn Spollet's statement, "You can’t just eat your way to Type 2 diabetes." Her reply in brief: "Wrong. You most definitely can eat your way to type 2 diabetes." I think a lot hinges on Spollet's use of the word "just'" and the fact she was quoted only very briefly in the New York Times article. You can read Nestle's full response here.

It's estimated that environmental and genetic factors contribute roughly equally to the incidence of T2D. A major environmental factor predisposing toward T2D is obesity caused by overeating and lack of exercise. No surprise there. But it's not just overeating.

Genetic factors also contribute significantly to diabetes risk*. But there's no scientific basis to divide people into two distinct groups, the "genetically predisposed" and "not genetically predisposed." Ongoing research indicates many genes contribute to T2D risk and each gene has a relatively small effect (over 20 genetic loci have so far been identified but the final number will probably be considerably higher). The outcome of this complex causality is that T2D risk is a continuum from high risk to low risk. Even those rare individuals with low risk combinations of genes will likely increase their probability of developing T2D if grossly overweight.

Even though diabetes is significantly influenced by one's genes, getting the disease or not is far from genetically preordained. Much is determined by choices made by the individual.

* An excellent but highly technical review article on the genetics of diabetes can be found here: Doria, Patti and Kahn (2008) The emerging genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes. Cell Metab 8:186-200.

Just reminded tonight of Ronnie's reference to the Smithfield issue ... on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, Tom Collichio was asked what he thought of the Paula Dean story and he said (paraphrase but close) "the real issue is Smithfields, read the Rolling Stone article, that's the real thing not hawking some drugs"

The Rolling Stone article is no longer online at their site but can be read via a link from Mother Jones:http://tinyurl.com/7dzre7m

Hi- I did not watch it, but a few days ago when I was flipping the channels, I noticed that the food network had one of Paula's shows on, and the synopsis of the show, said that it was from 2012. Is she still taping shows for the food network? This show sounded like typical unhealthy Paula cooking. I forget the title of the show. BTW, I just checked Comcast on demand, and none of her shows are available there. Thanks, Nancy

Mere allegations at this point but a recently-filed lawsuit contends that Deen condoned "...an atmosphere of sexual harassment and racism in her high-profile culinary empire. The suit also accuses Deen of casually referring to black people with a racial epithet."

at ChicagoTribune.com, Richard Fausset wrote:Perhaps the most explosive allegation in the suit is that Deen, a frequent guest on the Oprah Winfrey show, used the epithet. Jackson claims that she was in charge of the food for Hiers’ 2007 wedding and asked Deen what look the wedding should have.

Deen, the suit alleges, told Jackson she wanted a “true Southern plantation-style wedding” and, using the epithet, suggested African Americans that would “wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts and black bow ties, you know in the Shirley Temple days, they used to tap dance around... Now that would be a true southern wedding, wouldn't it? But we can't do that because the media would be on me about that.”

Grubstreet Chicago had a link to a menu from another Harrahs location back in November when this was first reported, i suck at linking stuff on the ipad otherwise id link it. Sandwiches, steaks, fried chicken, po' boy, Low country boil, shrimp and grits, etc. also a buffet.

Harrahs Joliet151 north streetJoliet, il.

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Choose my bluest tape and unlock my car ~ An honest tune with a lingering lead has taken me this far.

I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~ Jason LoveThere is no pie in Nighthawks, which is why it's such a desolate image. ~ Happy StomachBacon is the duct tape of the kitchen. ~ Chef Bruce

Hi- I just read the original article that is in the latest issue of Prevention magazine, and it is totally different than the link on their website. Apparently the pharmaceutical company that she is working for approached her to see if she could adapt some of her recipes for diabetics. She asked them how they found out that she was diabetic, and apparently they had no idea that she was. I don't know why they originally approached her when they did not know that she was diabetic. Apparently when she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, her doctor gave her a prescription right away, without just trying diet first. Apparently she did not go on Vytorin until after she signed the deal with the company. She was on another group of meds. and asked her doctor if she could switch her to Vytorin. She takes two other diabetes drugs too, I think including Actos.

Paula still eats foods that are not good for you, but she just eats smaller portions of them. She says that she is not into super healthy, low fat cooking.

It was an interesting article. She said that she felt overwhelmed when she first got diagnosed, and she was not given very much counseling about what she should or should not eat. Hope this helps, Nancy

Hi- Paula Dean is in the news again. A former employer of one of her restaurants and her brothers restaurant is suing Paula and her brother for sexual harassment, and making racial slurs, including using the N word. She has issued an apology on utube, but the Food network has decided to not renew her contract after it expires next month. Here is a link with all the info.

What does everyone else think? Do you think the Food Network was right to not renew Paula's contract? I personally think that they are doing the right thing. I have never been a big fan of Paula though. While reading the comments at the NY daily news, I ran across quite a few Paula supporters, who claim that she used the N word, because she grew up listening to it while she was growing up. Thanks,

Hi- In her youtube appearance, she admits to using racial slurs when she was working with the person who is suing her for $1.3 million dollars, but she apologizes. Even if Paula wins the case, she is going to lose some fans. I don't know if all the charges are worth $1.3 million though. Hope this helps, Nancy

Last edited by NFriday on June 22nd 2013, 9:44pm, edited 1 time in total.

Love this one:"most jokes are about Jewish people, rednecks, black folks ... gays or straights, black, redneck, you know, I just don't know — I just don't know what to say,” Deen reportedly said in her defense.

Racism doesn't even exist anymore, right?

I wonder what kind of promotions the restaurants she is "attached" to will be pushing. I'm sure the late night talk shows can come up with some good material.

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We cannot be friends if you do not know the difference between Mayo and Miracle Whip.

but the Food network has decided to not renew her contract after it expires next month.

They didn't wait until 7/1. While Comcast/Xfinity program guide lists her awful "Paula's Best Dishes" as being on as I write, it's not - nor is it or any other Paula Deen-centric show anywhere on the schedule this week on the Food Network schedule. Interestingly, the seeming purge doesn't seem to extend to FN's affiliate, the Cooking Channel. From today's schedule:

10:00 AMNot My Mama's MealsSouthern to the CoreBobby's Deen's mother, Paula Deen stops by for some friendly cooking competition. Bobby's making lighter versions of his mother's Southern to the Core foods. He starts with his, Chicken Fried Chicken, and then gets into a creamy Fresh Green Bean Casserole. Later, Paula and Bobby go head to head, Paula making her Banana Pudding and Bobby making his Light Banana Pudding. They head to the streets for a blind taste test to see whose banana pudding will reign supreme!

I don't see what the basis would be for dumping her son's show. In regard to her guest appearances, I'd guess that would be difficult to purge given how much she appeared on the channel on various things like the Next Food Network Star.

I don't see what the basis would be for dumping her son's show. In regard to her guest appearances, I'd guess that would be difficult to purge given how much she appeared on the channel on various things like the Next Food Network Star.

She is featured on every single show; the high concept of "Not My Mama's Meals" is making over popular-but-deadly Paula Deen recipes, and her comments after tasting the revised version, making her an integral part of the program.

Hi- I wonder what they are going to do with the son's show, since she appears every week on it. Apparently Paula's brother is the one that sexually harassed this woman, even though Paula is also being sued because she and her brother are business partners. She has admitted to making some racist remarks though, such as using the N word. I wonder if her drug endorsement will still take place.

Maybe Paula will spend more time at her restaurant, since she lost her food network contract. Has anybody here ever eaten at her restaurant in Savannah?

Hi= I just read the comments on the Food Network's Facebook page, and it seemed like the great majority of the posters were ready to boycott the FN because they dumped Paula. I saw very few Anti Paula posts. Apparently they are going to keep her son's show on the air.

I ate at the restaurant about three years ago. I would NOT return for several reasons.

First, the restaurant largely consists of a buffet (three entrees per meal). The food was decent, standard southern fare. The problem that I had with it was that you could EASILY find a dozen restaurants within ten miles where you could get a heck of a lot more variety of food at equal quality. The night before, we ate at a place called Ole Times Country Buffet that had great variety of authentic southern comfort foods (eight variety of beans, for example) and a MINIMUM of 20 other vegetables, including some preparations that you would NEVER see outside of the deep South. That meal was $10 vs $17 at Paula's restaurant.

Second, I did NOT like how they let food sit out at room temperature rather than placing it in a heating cabinet. They SHOULD know better.

Third, we were staying at a state park 30 miles out of town. To make a reservation, you have to show up at 8:30 am, get in line and make the reservation IN PERSON. We did exactly that. We were supposed to show up at 11 am for seating. We arrived at 10:50 AM. We did NOT get seated until 11:30 am as they let THREE BUSLOADS of people into the place before us. When we finally did get in, we were seated at a very tiny two top on bar stools in the bar. It was very uncomfortable and a major disappointment.

Here are two recommendations in the general vicinity that were a lot better:

Jlawerence01 has provided a lot more details than I can, but my mother, who is not a foodie by any stretch of the imagination, went to the restaurant a couple of years ago and thought it was the biggest tourist trap rip off she had ever run across.

NFriday wrote: I ran across quite a few Paula supporters, who claim that she used the N word, because she grew up listening to it while she was growing up.

I grew up listening to the Muppets, but to each his own, I guess.

Not to mention the sheer idiocy in anyone suggesting that she heard the words 50 years ago but had no exposure to the world and learned nothing since then. I'm sure she's a well-meaning person, but the fact that she can't understand the controversy over language that she was accustomed to in 1963 being problematic in 2013 is mind-boggling.

Even if she is a member of the Klan, she is a GD celebrity (of sorts). She should know that nothing kills a career faster than racist tirades. Did she miss the whole Michael Richard's melt-down? I don't doubt for a second that she is conditioned to use that language (my uncle is from the backwoods of Canada, and says some truly embarrassing things), but where were her agent and manager? You would think that if Ms. Deen displayed the propensity for using racially offensive speech, they would have warned her of the possible negative consequences to her career. After all, their 20% of her income probably represents a fat stack. Instead, they allowed her to crash and burn and take them with her.

d4v3 wrote:Even if she is a member of the Klan, she is a GD celebrity (of sorts). She should know that nothing kills a career faster than racist tirades. Did she miss the whole Michael Richard's melt-down?

Apparently. She's also a singularly clueless manager, if you believe the details in that law suit. One of the claims is that she refused to stop her brother from watching porn at work, despite repeated complaints from the staff, on the grounds that what he was doing wasn't a big deal.

TV Guide is reporting that QVC has also essentially dumped her (she shilled cookware for them).